Developing global citizens during the pandemic - ideas for IGCA activities to do at home and some relating to the pandemic

[Boyd Roberts]

Developing global citizens during the pandemic

 

Regular schooling has been and continues to be disrupted in many countries. Students are undertaking more work on their own at home, and opportunities to work with others in the IGCA programme may be very limited.

 

But the pandemic – truly a global concern which crosses all borders and divisions – provides opportunities for IGCA participants to develop a greater and deeper awareness as global citizens.

 

Many students are now working at home. The rest of this message gives some ideas and links for activities that IGCA participants can undertake at home on their own. The activities are all relevant to development as responsible global citizens.

 

1. Finding out more about the pandemic

Which countries have been particularly badly affected by Covid 19?

Why?

Within your own country, which parts and which people are worst affected by the virus?

Why might this be?

 

2. The importance of key workers.

In some countries there have been “lockdowns” when most people are required to stay at home, working from home if possible. But there are some people whose work is essential to keep the country going. These may be described as “key workers” or by a similar term.

 

Obvious examples of key workers are:

health professionals and other people providing medical care

people involved in the production and transport of essential items like food and medical supplies

people who keep our utilities going - our electricity supplies, water, gas or other fuel

 

What other groups do you think should be classified as key workers?

Who are designated as key workers by the government in your country?

How much do these key workers earn?

Are the people we think are most important to all of us, also the highest paid?

Who do you think deserves more pay – a nurse on the front line of Covid treatment in a major hospital or a banker?

Why?

 

3. Personal Global Footprint

 

Spending more time at home gives opportunities to look in more detail at the personal global footprint of our home life.

1. a) Look in more detail at personal global footprint with activities from UK Eco Schools (all ages)

Energy usage

UK:      https://www.eco-schools.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Energy-Ec...

Waste

https://4f020e61-18c5-417b-9fe7-89fe53c0cb9c.filesusr.com/ugd/7b63b...

Food waste

https://4f020e61-18c5-417b-9fe7-89fe53c0cb9c.filesusr.com/ugd/7b63b...

 

A wider selection of activities and resources, some relevant to the IGCA at:

https://www.pdp.w-berks.sch.uk/eco-schools-from-home

 

1. b) Essentials of eco-living at home. A humorous video suitable for 11-13 year olds.

https://learning.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/resources/eco-living/

 

4. Fun activities
5. a) Understanding other cultures and outlooks

The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford is one of the world’s great anthropological museums with extensive collections of objects from many different cultures around the world of different ages. The display is eccentric, and the museum is a fun place for school students to visit.

Withiut leaving your home, take a virtual tour of the museum at:

https://v21artspace.com/pitt-rivers-museum

 

Unfortunately, labels on the objects are not visible on the virtual tour, so the educational value of the visit is limited. But it is fun.

 

 

1. b) The Natural History Museum in London has a number of short videos on fun activities.

How to eco-wrap a present.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JMIVTGa7KI&list=PL6w4ihPqk5_Lcp...

How to make a bird box

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYF9b_zfP48&list=PL6w4ihPqk5_Lcp...

 

5. Working with others

Children’s roles in collaborating to defeat Covid-19

 

Children can play a key role in spreading or reducing the spread of Covid-19. The Guide below encourages students (ages 9-13) to consider and reflect on how they can collaborate to help defeat Covid.

 

From Childhood Education International

Blog: https://ceinternational1892.org/article/childrens-roles/

Guide for use with or by children: https://ceinternational1892.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Empoweri...